MSPs voted on Tuesday 17 March 2026 to reject the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill at its final Stage 3 vote, by 69 to 57, with one abstention. The division followed four days of amending proceedings on 10–13 March and was conducted as a free vote across parties. (parliament.scot)
In its final form, the Bill would have permitted a terminally ill adult expected to die within six months, ordinarily resident in Scotland for at least 12 months and registered with a Scottish GP, to request assistance to end their life, subject to capacity tests. It required two independent medical assessments, a first and second declaration, and a minimum 14‑day reflection period (shortenable to 48 hours if death was imminent). The text provided for reporting via Public Health Scotland, periodic review, and detailed regulation of approved substances and devices. (parliament.scot)
Safeguards embedded in the documentation included explicit protections for conscientious objection, continuous checks that a request was voluntary, and a specific offence for coercing or pressuring a person to make the required declarations. These provisions were set out in the Member’s Policy Memorandum and subsequently reflected in the Bill’s structure. (parliament.scot)
The Bill had cleared its Stage 1 hurdle on 13 May 2025 by 70 to 56, and a Financial Resolution was agreed on 30 October 2025, allowing detailed Stage 2 scrutiny to proceed through November. Stage 3 amending sessions concluded on 13 March 2026 before the final vote on 17 March. (parliament.scot)
Ministers allowed a conscience vote and the Scottish Government maintained a formal position of neutrality on the legislation, though senior figures set out personal opposition. First Minister John Swinney indicated in advance he would vote against, and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes confirmed she opposed the Bill, citing safety concerns raised by professional bodies. (holyrood.com)
Arguments against centred on the risk of coercion, the position of disabled people and those facing structural inequalities, conscientious objection for clinicians, and the adequacy of oversight and palliative care. Supporters argued the measure offered a safeguarded choice alongside, not instead of, palliative care and sought to codify clear clinical pathways. (parliament.scot)
Because the motion to pass was defeated, the Bill falls and cannot become law in this session. Scotland’s underlying legal position therefore remains unchanged: there is no specific statutory offence of assisting suicide, but assistance may be prosecuted through homicide‑related offences. (parliament.scot)
At Westminster, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill for England and Wales-approved in the Commons in 2025-remains under detailed scrutiny in the House of Lords, with committee stage activity in March 2026. That Bill limits eligibility to those with a prognosis of six months or less and requires approval by two doctors. (parliament.uk)
Among the Crown Dependencies, Jersey’s States Assembly approved an assisted dying law on 26 February 2026 by 32–16, for residents with a six‑month prognosis (12 months for specific neurodegenerative conditions), permitting administration by a doctor or registered nurse; Royal Assent is still required. (apnews.com)
On the Isle of Man, Tynwald passed its Assisted Dying Bill in March 2025; Royal Assent has yet to be granted. The Manx framework limits access to residents of at least five years with a life expectancy of up to 12 months, with implementation expected no earlier than 2027. (itv.com)
For international comparison, Canada legalised medical assistance in dying in 2016 and broadened eligibility in 2021 to include some cases where death is not reasonably foreseeable; plans to extend eligibility to mental illness alone have been deferred until 17 March 2027. Health Canada’s monitoring reports indicate MAID accounted for 4.7% of deaths in 2023 and about 5.1% in 2024. (justice.canada.ca)